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The "pit stop" programme is a $170 million innovation investment led by commercial partners, including DairyNZ and Fonterra, and partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Since it started in 2010, more than 4000 farmers have had health check-ups. But a recent funding alteration meant changes had to be made to ensure the vital health service could continue.

Farm Source stores across the country now host the health pit stops and nursing students volunteer their time.

Setting up the "pit stops" in stores makes it easier to intercept farmers and start a conversation about their mental and physical wellbeing - a conversation that's too often avoided.

"I think it's on the agenda a lot more and on people's minds," Bailey said. "But I'm sure there's plenty of people that don't think about it enough still.

"So having it in places like this are good because... it gets the thought process going that they (farmers) go to their own doctor or come and get a test done. That's all it is really, it is just to find out if there are alarm bells, then you can go to your doctor to get it followed up."

Walsh admitted some farmers can be stubborn.

"They don't necessarily make the time to go check on their health and so you see some come into the store for this and I'm leaving, 'I don't have time' kind of thing, which is part of the problem.

"A lot of them don't have the time to take care of themselves, they're too busy taking care of their farm."

Next week the Wintec nurses will set up the health pit stop at Morrinsville's Farm Source store.

In the next two months, there are plans for health pit stops in Taranaki and Southland.